Electric switch



P. G. SHAW ELECTRIC SWITCH Jan. 23, 1934.

Filed Oct. 26, L931 Inventor:

Percy Gfihaw,

His At torney.

Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT orsica General Electric Com New York pany, a corporation of Applicationoctober 26, 1931. Serial No. 571,091

4 Claims. (Cl. 200 -67) My invention relates to an electric switch, and more particularly to the type of electric switch known as the tumbler switch.

The object of my invention is to provide a tumbler switch of simple construction, easy to assemble, of low cost of manufacture, and rugged in construction.

What I consider to be novel and my invention will be better understood by reference to the 01- lowing specification and appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a crosssectional view of a tumbler switch embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the receptacle with the switch mechanism removed;

16 Fig. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the switch with the receptacle in section.

Tumbler switch 10 comprises a receptacle 11 of insulating material in which two stationary contacts 12 and 13 are secured. Contacts 12 and 13 have portions projecting longitudinally within a central chamber of receptacle 11. At either side of the top of this central chamber are V-shaped recesses 14 communicating with larger semicircular recesses l5 which extend to the top of the receptacle. The movable contact comprises a lever 16 of U shape with contacts 17 integral with the bottom of the U. At the top of the U are two outwardly extending lugs 18 which serve as pivots for the lever 16 and are seated in recesses 14. At the bottom of the U-shaped lever 16 is located a lug 19 which a spring 20 is adapted to engage. At the top of the U-shaped lever 16 are also two inwardly extending lugs 21 which are adapted to engage the other end of the spring 20 and hold the spring in position during the assembly of the switch. An operat ing handle 22 is provided with a downwardly extending arm which is adapted to engage the top of spring 20 to compress it and move the,

lever 16 from one position to another. Operating handle 20 has integral stub shafts 23 extending from each side, which are adapted to seat in the larger recesses 15 in the receptacle and serve as pivots for the operating handle.

To take up the shock on the movement of the operating handle and also to serve as stops for the operating handle in its two positions, projecting shoulders 24 are provided at the lower end of the operating handle 22 extending angularly in both directions from the top of the stub shafts 23. A supporting strap 25 is provided and secured in position by two screws 26 which are inserted through openings in the receptacle 11. The supporting strap has a central opening through which the end of the operating handle 22 extends and the edges of which engage the top of the stub shafts 23 to hold the stub shafts in position in recesses 15 of the receptacle. The edges of this central opening in strap 25 also serve as stops against which the shoulders 24 0 of operating handle 22 abut. Lever 16 is held 'in position with its outwardly extending lugs 18 seated in recesses 14 by means of the compression spring 20 with its one end engaging the operating handle and the other end engaging the 06 lever. Movable contacts 17 extend at right 'angles to the plane of lever 16 and thus are parallel to the longitudinally extendingportion of contacts 12 and 13. The contacts 12 and 13 are spaced slightly closer together than the spacing of contacts 17 and are curved at their inner ends so that they will be expanded as the con tacts 17 engage them to create a contact pressure between the stationary and movable contacts. By the arrangement of these contacts in parallel relationship, the movable contacts 17 rub against the contact surfaces of the stationary contacts as they engage them or disengage them. This rubbing action between the stationary and movable contacts keeps the contact surfaces bright and smooth. A single throw switch is shown in the drawing, but it is only necessary to locate two contacts at the opposite end of the receptacle 11, similar to contacts 12 and 13, to make it a double throw switch. The movable contacts 17 are curved at both ends for their use with either a single or double throw switch.

In the assembly of the switch the spring 20 is first placed in position with the one end surrounding the lug 19 of lever 16 and its other end engaging the inwardly projecting lugs 21. The lever 16 with spring 20 is then dropped into the receptacle with its outwardly'projecting lugs 18 seating in the recesses 14. The operating handle is then placed in position in the receptacle with its inwardly extending arm engaging the top of spring 20 and its stub shafts 23 seating in recesses 15. The supporting strap 25 is placed in position over the top of receptacle 11 and secured by the screws 26.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that a tumbler switch is provided with a minimum of parts of simple construction which are rugged and at the same time of low cost of manufacture. The assembly of the switch is simplified materially by the arrangement for compressing the spring and securing it in engagement with the lever before it is placed in the receptacle. The method of pivoting the lever and the operating handle in recesses in the receptacle also mate- 11o rially simplifies the assembly and construction of the switch.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: v

1. In an electric switch, a receptacle of insulating material, contacts secured in said receptacle, a lever of U shape having outwardly projecting lugs pivoted in recesses in said receptacle and inwardly projecting lugs, a contact connected to said lever, a spring engaging the lever and adapted to be held in position by said inwardly projectinglugs during assembly of the switch, an operating handle engag said spring and pivoted on integral stub shafts in recesses in said receptacle, and a supporting strap engaging the stub shafts. to hold the operating handle in position in said receptacle.

2. In an electric switch, a receptacle of'insulating material, contacts secured in said receptacle, a lever of U shapehaving outwardly projecting lugs pivoted in recesses in said receptacle and inwardly projecting lugs, a contact connected to said lever, a spring engaging the lever and adapted to be held imposition by said inwardly projecting lugs during the assembly of the switch, an operating handle engaging said spring and pivoted on integral stub shafts in recesses in said receptacle and having shoulders extending around the lower portion of the operating handle from said stub shafts at an angle thereto, and a supporting strap engaging saidstub shafts to hold the operating handle in position in said receptacle and providing a stop for the shoulders, of said operating handle.

3. In an electric switch, a receptacle 'of insulating material, contacts securedin said receptacle, a contact carrying lever of U shape having outwardly projecting lugs pivoted in recesses in said receptacle and inwardly projecting lugs, a spring engaging the lever, and adapted to be held in position by said inwardly projecting lugs during the assembly of the switch, an operating handle engaging said spring and pivoted on integral stub shafts in recesses in said receptacle and having shoulders extending around the lower portion of the handle from said stub shafts at an angle thereto, and a supporting strap engaging the stub shafts to hold the operating handle in position in said receptacle and providing a stop for the shoulders of the operating handle.

,4. In an electric switch, a receptacle of insulating material, a leverand contact bridging member of U shape having outwardly projecting lugs pivoted in recesses in said receptacle and inwardly projecting lugs, a spring engaging the lever, an operating handle engaging said spring and pivoted on integral stub shafts in recesses in said receptacle, and a supporting strap engaging said stub shafts to hold the operating handle in position in the receptacle whereby the switch may be assembled by securing the stationary contac in position, placing the spring in position between the arms of the U-shaped lever and compressing it to engage the inwardly projecting lugs, dropping the lever and spring in position in the receptacle with the outwardly projecting lugs seating in recesses in the receptacle, placing the operating handle'in position and in engagement with the top of the spring,

placing the supporting strap in position, and

securing the whole assembly together.

, PERCY G. SHAW., 

